Finding a Rental in Nashville Market

[Blake Hise]

Hi all,

I know this forum is more geared toward current and prospective investors (also the reason I'm here and listen to the podcast) – still I wondered if anyone could weigh in on the best way to quickly find a nice house to rent in the Nashville market without MLS access, given how aggressive the market is with the influx of new buyers from CA etc. I'm pretty early on in my career and don't quite have the liquidity to purchase in this market just yet.

Is it appropriate to consult a real estate agent in this market if only looking to rent and, if so, is there a strong enough financial incentive on the agent's side to offer a reasonable amount of assistance? The people I’m talking to insist I should still be able to find a rental by myself, but Zillow and other sites with rental listings appear to be fairly picked over. For reference, I’ll be looking for something within a 30-minute commute of Brentwood in the $1,900 - $2,300 /month price range around July-August. I’m a little worried it will be difficult to find something for a reasonable value within a one-month time frame close to when my existing lease ends, so just trying to get a gameplan together in advance.

Any input is much appreciated.